Before it was cool to drive a Cadillac hearse around town, the rock band The Invictas were doing it and doing it well. If you’ve never heard of The Invictas, here are some facts about the band, the music and the hearse in which they toured the nation.
• The hearse they drove around was a 1955 Cadillac hearse complete with gold racing stripes. It had a reputation of breaking down often.
• The band had a hit during the 1960s named The Hump. Because of all the controversy surrounding the song, the band usually showed up to their gigs in their hearse surrounded by police.
• The Invictas reunited a few years ago with three of the original four members.
• The bandleader – Herb Gross – bought a 1984 Cadillac hearse from an Iowa City emergency room.
• The Invictas wrote a song about their Cadillac hearse and titled it Big Caddy Hearse.
• One time while pushing the hearse to a safe spot on the shoulder of the highway, Herb Gross tripped and the car ran over his foot and leg. He suffered no serious injuries.
• The band says they have to be prepared for anything at their age. That’s why they keep a hearse around after all these years.
